Coin control device



Jan. 12, 1937. P. H. SMYTHE, JR

COIN CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Paul lisn fizejn BY WM M ///.5 A1 IORNEYi Jan. 12, 1937. H, sMYTHEy JR 2,067,248

COIN CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Pbu z lxsm ffie J1:

BY M

//5 ATTORNEY5.

Jan. 12, 1937. p SMYTHE, JR 2,067,248

COIN CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 25, 1 935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Paa Z17. S Z/ZeL/Jr BY 6 M MW 6 ATTORNEY$ Patented Jam 12, 1937 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE v I -com dominance i v 7 Paul H. Smthe, In, Chicago, Ill. Application May 23, 1935, Serial N0. 22,962 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-35) This invention relates to a coin control device.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved coin control device which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efllcient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved multiple or gang coin chute which is especially adapted for use in conjunction with coin-controlled phonographs in which a predetermined number of records may be played for each coin inserted into the coin control device, this device being so constructed that, for example, flve records may be played for a quarter inserted into the coin-receiving aperture of the twenty-five cent or quarter coin slide, two records may be played for a dime inserted into the coin aperture of the dime slide, and one record may be played for a nickel inserted into the coin aperture of the nickel slide.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism for preventing fraudulent operation of the coin slides having coin apertures adaptedto receive coins or tokens of the smaller denominations, that is to say, to prevent the operator of the device from fraudulently operating, for example, the nickel and dime coin slides in such a manner as to enable him to play the same number of records as he is allowed for the insertion of a coin or token into the aperture of the quarter slide and operation of the latter.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in a coin control device, the combination of: a plurality of gang of coin slides having coinreceiving apertures provided therein for the reception of coins or tokensof various sizes or denominations; a device for controlling an operating mechanism of a machine, apparatus orthe like with which the said first-named coin control device may be associated; and means coacting selectively and at different times with each of said coin slides for operating said second-named control device a predetermined number of times when a coin or token of the proper size or denomination is inserted into the coin-receiving aperture of a preselected one of said coin slides and the latter is moved to complete its operative stroke; the number of times said second-named device is operated depending upon which of the said coin slides is operated and having a predetermined relationship to the denomination of the coin or token inserted into, the coin-receiving aperture of the preselected and actuated slide.

An additional object of. the present invention is to provide, in combination with an automatic coin-controlled phonograph, a coin control device which includes a plurality of separate and independent manually operated coin slides for controlling the number of times that the recordselecting or operating mechanism of the phonograph may be actuated for the payment of a coin into the phonograph.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be understood best by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of the new coin control device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view showing in detail the switch and control mechanism therefor embodied in the present invention;

Fig, 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, on line 6-6 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view, on line 'l-'| in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view, partly in section, of an automatic phonograph, showing the present coin control device associated therewith; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of an electric circuit which embodies the operating or control motor for aphonograph, such as that shown in Fig. 8, and with which the present coin control devicemay be associated.

A general description of the construction of the present coin control device per se, will first be given, followed by a detailed description of the same, per se, following which will be given a short description of one specific use to which the present coin control device may be put, namely, as used in conjunction with the operating mechanism of an automatic phonograph such as is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and which is generally indicated therein at 65.

A preferred form of the new coin control device as shown in the drawings, is therein generally indicated at Ill, and comprises a, plurality or gang of coin slides Ii, l2, and I3, which are slidably mounted in guide structures l4, and the latter are, in turn,.for the purpose of illustration, shown as attached tothe front wall I5 01' the cabinet of a coin controlled device which may be for example, a coin-controlled Phonograph, such as is shown in Figs, 8 and 9 and which is generally indicated therein at 65. Provided in the coin slides II, II, and II are coin or token-receiving apertures 54, 55, and ll, respectively, which are adapted, respectively to receive coins or tokens of various sizes or denominations. thus, for example, the coin aperture 54 in the coin slide ll may be adapted to receive quarters. the coin aperture in the coin slide I! may be adapted to receive dimes, and the coin aperture 50 in the coin slide it may be adapted to receive nickels.

Pivotally mounted at one end, as at It, upon a supporting member or plate l1 which isarranged below the coin slides II, II, and I3, is a bar I8 and carried by this bar It, on the upper side thereof, is a series of cam rollers I9, 20, and II with which the inner end portions oi the coin slide II, II, and II are, respectively, engageable when the coin slides II, II, and I3 are moved from coin-receiving position toward coin-discharging position, (left to right, Fig. i).

The bar ll has an angled and depending arm ll and this arm I carries a cam roller 22 which is engageable with the pawl-operating arm 23: this pawl-operating arm 23 being mounted loosely upon, that is floating, on a shaft 2 upon which is mounted aratchet 25.

Engageable with the teeth 54 of the ratchet 25 is an operating pawl 26 which is pivotally connected at one end, as at If, to the pawl-operating arm 23; and pivotally connected to the pawloperating arm 23, as at 32, is a link 19, which, in turn, is pivotally connected, as at 21, to a second link 25, this link 28 being pivotally connected, as at 18, to a slide rod III which is slidably mounted in a dash pot or timing device 3|.

Engageable with the teeth 54 of the ratchet 25 is an angled end portion 35 of a switch member 34 which is engageable with an arm 35 of a contact member It; and the contact member It is, in turn, engageable with a contact I1; this switch or circuit-closing device 3445-36-41 being adapted to control a circuit 63 (Fig. 9) which includes a motor 84 which, in turn, controls the record-selecting or operating mechanism, generally indicated at 68 (Fig. 8), for the automatic phonograph O5.

Engageable with the angled end portion or arm SI of the switch 14 is a latch member 85 which is pivotally mounted, between its ends, upon the shaft 24, (Fig. 6). This latch 'member '5 has an angled end portion 86 which is engageable with the angled end portion or arm 38 of the switch member N, and this latch member 85 also has an angled end portion 40 which works in, and projects upwardly through a cut-out or notched portion ll, which is formed in one edge of the supporting plate i'l (Figs. 1 and 6), to a point above the latter; and this upwardly projecting portion ll of the latch member 85 is engageable with a notched portion 12 which is formed in the angled or depending arm 6! of the pivotal bar It, (Fig.1).

Provided in the pivotal bar It is a slot 43, (Fig. 1), and formed in the bar It on opposite sides of, and as extensions of, the slot 43, are notched portions 44 and 45, (Fig. i). Projecting into, and operating in, the slot 43 is an upwardly extending portion or arm 48 of a latch member 41 which is pivotally mounted, at one end, as at ll, (Fig;

6), on the supporting plate ii, on the bottom side of the latter, (Fig. 6) the upwardly extending end or latch portion 46 of this latch member l1 working in a slot ll which is provided in the supporting plate I], (Fig. 6), and this upwardly extending end portion 46 of the latch member 41 has oppositely angled or extending arms ii and '2, (Fig. 1) which project over the pivotal bar II on opposite sides of the slot 43.

Attached to the latch member "-41 is a spring 50; and attached to the pivotal bar It is a resetting spring 5|; while attached to the pawl-operating arm 23 is a resetting spring 52. Attached to the latch member .5 in a direction (clockwise, Fig. 6) to engage the angled end portion or arm 86 thereof with the angled end portion or arm ll of the switch member 34.

As has been stated hereinbefore, the present coin control device is especially adapted for use in conjunction with automatic phonographs such as that shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and generally indi cated therein at 65.

By reference to Figs. 8 and 9 it will be noted that there is embodied in the circuit 63, which includes the motor N, a switch, generally indicated at 81 (Fig. 9), and which includes a pair of contacts 50 and 69.

The contact 68 has an extension It which is engageable with a latch arm H which is pivotally mounted at one end, as at 11, in the cabinet it of the phonograph 85. This latch arm H has an angled end portion I! which is engageable with a pin 13 which is, in turn, carried by and projects laterally from a ratchet ll.

The ratchet I4 is rotatably mounted, as at 19, in the cabinet 18 of the phonograph 65, and engageable with the teeth of the ratchet H is one arm I5 of an operating pawl I. This pawl Bi is pivotally mounted between its ends, as at If, and has a second arm 33 which is likewise engageable with the teeth 80 of the ratchet ll. Associated with, and arranged adjacent to, the ratchet Si is a pair of electromagnets Hi which are likewise embodied in the circuit 63.

The operation of the switch 61 and associated parts will be explained in detail following the detailed description of the operation of the present coin control device, per se, and which will now be given; the purpose of illustrating the switch 61 and associated parts of the phonograph 85, which is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, being to illustrate a preferred and typical use of the present coin control device.

Associated with the coin slides H, II, and I3 respectively, are conventional full stroke devices 51, 58 and 59 (Fi 1).

Operation The coin-receiving apertures in the coin slides H, II, and I! are designed to receive coins or tokens of various or different sizes or denominar:

tions. Thus, the coin aperture 5 in the coin slide l I may be designed to receive, for example, quarters or twenty-five cent coins; the coin aperture 55 in the coin slide I! may be designed to receive, for example, ten cent pieces or dimes; and the coin aperture 58 in the coin slide i3 may be designed to receive, for example, nickels or five cent pieces: and these coin slides may be operated selectively by the operator of the machine, apparatus or the like with which the present coin control device is associated and which may be. as hereinbefore stated, a coin-controlled phonograph, such as that generally shown in Fig. 8.

Thus, for example, assuming that the present coin-control device is associated with a coincontrolled phonograph, such as that generally shown in Fig. 8, and assuming further the player pays five cents into the coin control device for each record selected; and assuming, additionally, that the player desires to pay in advance for clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 7).

five preselected "records, that is, for five recordplaying operations.

In this event, the operator or player may insert a quarter or twenty-five cent piece into the coin aperture 54 of the coin slide II; whereupon, when the player pushes the coin slide I I inwardly from coin-receiving, toward coin-discharging position, left to right, Fig. l), the inner end portion of the coin slide II will engage the cam roller I8 which is mounted on the pivotal bar I8, thereby pivoting the. bar I8, at I6, (counterclockwise, from full to dotted line position, Fig. 1), against the action of its resetting spring 5I.

During this movement of the bar I8 (from full to dotted line position, Fig. 1) the cam or roller 22 which is carried by the angled and depending arm 81 thereof engages the pawl-operating arm 23 and thereby pivots the latter (in a coui iltgs movement of the pawl-operating arm 23 causes the pawl 26, which is pivotally attached thereto, at 32, to ride over the teeth 54:01 the ratchet 25.

against or into engagement with which the pawl 26 is urged by the spring 55; and during this movement of the pawl 26 the links 38 and 28 act upon the rod 30 to slide the latter (right to left, Fig. 7) in the dash pot or timing device 3|.

Iii

When the coin slide I I has thus been pushed in from coin-receiving position to coin-discharging position, and is released, it is returned to its initial or coin-receiving position by action of a resetting spring (not shown), and during this resetting movement of the coin slide II the resetting spring 52 for the pawl-operating arm 23 acts upon the latter to pivot the same (clockwise, Fig. '7), thereby causing the pawl 25 to engage the teeth 54 of the ratchet 25 and thus advance the latter a predetermined circumferential distance (clockwise, Fig. 7); this distance being equal to the circumferential distance represented by five of the teeth 54 on the ratchet 25.

During this circumferential movement of the ratchet 25, (clockwise, Fig. '7), the aforementioned five teeth 54 thereof successively engages the angled end portion 38 of the switch member 34 and thereby pivot the latter (Fig. 7) into engagement with the pin 35; thus forcing the contact 31 into engagement with the contact 36. and thereby closing the circuit 63 tojthe electromagnets I8 and motor 64 so as to actuate the operating mechanism 56 of 'a phonograph or other machine or mechanism, with which the present coin control device may be associated.

The circumferential movement thus imparted to the ratchet 25, (clockwise, Fig. 7), by the operator of the coin slide II, moves the ratchet 25 a circumferential distance corresponding to five teeth 54 on the ratchet 25 and the circuit-closing or controlling switch member 34, and associated contacts 35 and 31, are thus moved into and out of closed. circuit position five successive times by operation of the coin slide II. the coin aperture 54 in which is adapted to receive, for example. quarters or twenty-five cent coins, and in this manner the record-selecting mechanism of the phonograph, or other machine or mechanism with which the present coin control device may be associated, is operated, or is predisposed to operate, five successive times for each coin inserted into the coin aperture 54 of the coin slide II and operation of the latter.

The notched portion 42 .of the depending or angled arm 81 of the pivotal bar I8 is disposed in engagement with the angled end or upwardly extending portion 48 of the latch member 85 its initial position (from full when the bar are disposed in their normal or initial position (as in full lines, Fig. 1), thereby holding the angled end portion 88 of the latch member 85 against the action of the spring 53, out of latching engagement with the angled end portion 38 of the switch member 34 (as in dotted lines, Fig. 6).

When one of the coin slides II, I2, or I3 is pushed in, the inner end'portion thereof engages the corresponding cam roller I9, 28, or 2I on the pivotal bar I8, thereby pivoting the bar I8 (from dotted to full line position, Fig. 6). During this movement of the bar I8, the notched portion 42 thereof moves out of engagement with the angled end or upwardly extending portion 40 of the latch'member 85. whereupon the spring 53 acts upon the latch member 85 to pivot the latter (clockwise,- from dotted to full line position, Fig. 6), thereby moving the angled end portion 88 of the latch member 85 into engagement with the angied end portion 38 of the switch member 34, and thus holding the angled end portion 38 in engagement with the teeth 54 of the ratchet 25, and thus preventing operation of bath the ratchet 25 and the switch member 34 during the inward movement or operative stroke of the preselected coin slide and in this manner preventing the operator of the device from fraudulently operating'the same by making an incomplete movement or operative stroke of the coin slide.

When the preselected coin slide (I I, I2, or I3) is reset into its initial or coin-receiving position (as in Fig. 1) by the action of its resetting spring (not shown), and the pivotal bar I8 is reset into to dotted line position. Fig. 6) by the action of its resetting spring 5|, the notched portion 42 of the bar I8, again engages the angled end portion or arm 40 of the latch member 85, thereby pivoting the latter, against the action of the spring 53, back into its initial position (from full to dotted line position, Fig. 6), thereby moving the angled end portion or arm 85 of the latch member 85 out of engagement with the angled end portion or arm 38 of the switch member 34. so as to permit operation cf the switch member 34, and the ratchet 25.

It will be noted, (Fig. 1), that the coin slide II (the coin aperture 54 in which is designed to receive coins or tokens having a higher denominaion than the coins or tokens intended to be inserted into the coin aperture 55 and 56 of the coin slides I2 and I3. respectively), shcrter operative stroke, in order for the pivotal.bar-I8 into effective position, than does either ofthe other two coin slides I2 and I3 in the group or gang of the same, by reason of te fact that the cam or roller I9 carried by the pivotal bar I8 and which is engaged by the inner end portion of the coin slide II, is positioned coser to the axis or pivot point I6 of the bar I8 than are the cam rollers and 2I. and hence the radius of the operative stroke of the cam roller I9 is shorter than those of the rollers 23 and 2| (Fig. 1).

Whtn a coin of proper size, denomination, etc., (which may be. for example. a dime) is inserted into the coin aperture 55 of the coin slide I2 and the later is operated, the inner end portion of I8 and the coin slides II, I2, and I3 edge II of the same engages the angled end portion II of the upwardly extending arm It of the latch member II (Figs. 1, 3, and 6) and thereby pivots the latter (left to right, Hg. 3). against the action of the resetting spring II which normally tends to hold the latch member I54I in the position in which it is shown in Fig. l and in which position it is centrally disposed relative to the axis of the slot II (as shown in Fig. i) This lateral movement of the latch member "-41 positions the stem portion Il thereof (Fig. 6) in the path of the notched portion II of the pivotal bar II. and when the latter is pivoted (from full line position, Fig. 1, toward full line position, Fig. 3) by the engagement of the coin slide i! with the cam roller II, the notched portion I5 of the bar II engages the stem portion 41 of the latch member "-41, and this latching engagement of the stem portion ll of the latch member "-41 in the notched portion II of the pivotal bar II prevents further operation of the said bar II (counterclockwise, as seen in Fig. 1).

In this manner the pivotal operating bar II is moved far enough (counterclockwise from full line position toward dotted line position, Fig. l)

to permit the pawl II to travel over two teeth N on the ratchet 2!, and hence when the pawl 20 is moved in the opposite direction (clockwise, Fig. 7), during its operative stroke, by action of the spring I! and the pawl-operating arm 23, the pawl II will move the ratchet 25 a circumferential distance (clockwise, Fig. 7) corresponding to two of the teeth 54 on the ratchet 25; thus causing two teeth II on the ratchet 25 to move successively into engagement with, and past, the angled end portion II of the switch-operating member II, and thus eilecting two successive operations of.the switch-operating member II and the control switch 35- and I] associated therewith. It will therefore be seen that the operation of the coin slide II (the coin aperture II in which is adapted to receive, for example, ten cent coins or tokens) permits two successive operations of the control switch II-II II-I'l and the mechanism controlled thereby. I"

when the coin slide ll isreleased and isreset into its initial or coin-receiving position (as in Fig. l) by action of its resetting spring (not shown). the lateral or side edge II of the coin slide l2 moves out of ewgement with themrm II of the latch member I'III (Pig. 1) and'during this operation the pivotal bar II is moved back into its initial position by operation of its resetting spring II, whereupon the notched portion II of the bar II moves out of latching engagement with the stem portion ll of thellatch member II (note Figs. 1 and 6), thus allowing the spring II to reset the latch member 41- back into its initial position (as in Fig. 1).

Similarly, when a coin of proper denomination. which may be, for example, a nickel, is inserted into the coin aperture !I of the coin slide II and the latter is operated. the inner end portion of the coin slide II engages the cam roller II which is carried by the pivotal bar iI and thereby pivots the latter (counterclockwise, from full toward dotted line position, Fig. l); and during this movement the lateral or side edge II of the coin slide II engages the angled end portion or arm I! of the upwardly extending arm II of the latch member 41, and thus moves the latter (bottom to top as seen in Hg. 1) thereby positioning the stem portion I! of the latch member II--41 in the path of the notched portion 44 of the pivotal bar II, so that when the bar II moves, during its operative stroke, (from full line position, toward dotted line position, Fig. 1), the notched portion ll of the pivotal bar II will engage the stem portion 41 of the latch member IIII, thereby preventing further movement of the bar II (counterclockwise, Fig. 1) and thus limiting the movement or operative stroke of the pivotal bar iI in such a manner that the pawl II is moved a circumferential distance (counterclockwise, Pig. '7) corresponding to only one tooth 54 of the ratchet 25; and, accordingly, when the pawl-opcrating arm 23 is moved in the opposite direction (clockwise, Fig. 7) during its operative stroke, by the action of the spring 52, the pawl II will move or advance the ratchet II a circumferential distance corresponding to only one tooth II on the ratchet 25; thereby effecting only one operation of the switch-operating member II, and the mechanism controlled thereby, for each operation of the coin slide II, and for each coin or token inserted in the coin aperture II thereof, which is adapted to receive, for example, five cent coins or nickels.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the number of times the control device or switch IIIl38-Il is operated by operation of the preselected and actuated coin slide (I I, I! or II) and associated means lI22--2I--2I, etc., depends upon which coin slide ii, i! or II is operated; and it will also be noted that the device or switch II--I536I'i is operated a greater number of times by certain coin slides (I l and II) than by certain other coin slides, (l2 and II); and it will furthermore be noted that the latch mechanism l64lIl-I2-4I, etc., prevents the operator of the present coin control device from operating the control device switch fl-I5II-.-3l as many times by operation of the nickel and dime coin slides l2 and II as the control deviceor switch II-IHI-II is operated by means of the quarter slide ll, so that the operator of the device cannot fraudulently operate or cheat the same and the machine, apparatus or the like controlled thereby,

Application of the present coin control device to an automatic phonograph For the purpose of illustrating a preferred and typical use to which the present coin control device may be put, its use in conjunction with an 425 and switch-operating arm II, the circuit II to the electromagnets II is closed, whereupon the pawl II is attracted by the electromagnets II; thus causing the arm ll thereof to engage the teeth III of the ratchet II. This engagement of the arm 15 of the pawl Ii with the teeth II of the ratchet ll causes the latter to rotate a predetermined distance (clockwise, Fig. 9), thereby moving the latch pin 13, which is carried by the ratchet ll, out of engagement, with the angled end portion or arm 12 of the latch arm II, whereupon the contact II moves, into engagement with the contact I9, thereby closing the circuit II to the motor II which controls the operating mechanism II of the phonograph II; it being noted that the contact II of the switch, I1 is normally latched out of engagement with the contact II by the engagement of the pin II with the angled end portion 12 of the latch arm H and the consequent bearing action of the latch arm ll against the extension II of the contact II.

The circuit 63 for the control or operating motor 64, being thus once closed, will remain closed until the ratchet 14 has been moved a predetermined circumferential distance (clockwise, Fig. 9), by successive operations of the switch 34-- 35-36-31 and the electromagnets l6 and pawl 8i, whereupon the ratchet H is reset (by a resetting device, not shown) in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 9; and at the end of this resetting operation the pin 13 on the ratchet II will again engage the angled end portion I2 of the latch arm H and thus pivot the latter, at 11, back into engagement with the extension III of the contact 68, thereby moving the contact 68 out of engagement with the contact 69 and thus opening the circuit 63 to the motor 84 which controls the operating or record-selecting mechanism 66 of the phonograph 65 (Figs. 8 and 9).

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eifect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: l. A device of the class described comprising a switch structure including cooperating contact elements, an arm pivotally mounted for closing the contact elements of said switch structure, a ratchet wheel movable to engage said arm to cause said arm to close the said contact elements or said switch structure, a plurality of independently movably mounted slides, and mechanism for operating said ratchet wheel including an actuating member adapted for engagement and actuation by any one of said slides.

2. A device of the class described comprising a switch structure including cooperating contact elements, an arm pivotally mounted for closing the contact elements of said switch structure, a ratchet wheel movable to engage said arm to cause said arm to close the said contact elements of said switch structure, a plurality of independently movably mounted slides, mechanism for operating said ratchet wheel including an actu-' ating member adapted for engagement and actuation by any one of said slides, and latch mechanism for releasably latching the said contact elements during operation of said mechanism in one direction with respect to the ratchet wheel.

3. A device of the class described comprising a switch structure including cooperating contact elements, a ratchet wheel movable to close said contact elements, a plurality of independently movably mounted slide members, mechanism for operating said ratchet wheel including an actu- -slides mounted on said ating member adapted for engagement by any one of said slides, and latch mechanism for releasably latching the said arm against operation upon said contact elements during operation of said mechanism in one direction with respect to the ratchet wheel.

4. A device of the class described comprising a supporting plate, a pair of spaced contact elements carried by the plate, an arm pivotally supported by the plate and movable to close said contact elements, a ratchet wheel for operating said arm, a plurality of independently movable plate, mechanism operated independently by said slides for actuating said ratchet wheel, said mechanism including a pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel to move the ratchet wheel in one direction, means for moving said pawl in said one direction, and means for retarding the movement of said pawl in said one direction by said pawl moving means.

5. A device of the class described comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of independently movable slides mounted upon said plate, a member pivotally supported by the plate and adapted to be engaged-by any one of said slides, a ratchet wheel, a pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel'for movingthe ratchet wheel in one direction, an operative connection between said pawl and said member for moving the pawl in one direction, and means for moving the said pawl in a 1 direction to rotate the said ratchet wheel.

6. A device of the class described comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of independently movable slides mounted upon said plate, a member pivotally supported by the plate and adapted to 'be engaged by any one of said slides, a ratchet wheel, a pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel for moving the ratchet wheel in one direction, operative connection between said pawl and said member for moving the pawl in one direction, means for moving the said pawl in a direction to rotate the said ratchet wheel, and means for retarding movement of said pawl in an opposite direction.

7. A device of the class described comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of independently movable slides mounted upon said plate, a member pivotally supported by the plate and adapted to be engaged by any one of said slides, a ratchet wheel, a pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel for moving the ratchet wheel in one direction, operative connection between said pawl and said member for moving the pawl in one direction, means for moving the said pawl in a direction to rotate the said ratchet wheel, means for retarding movement of pawl in an opposite direction, a switch actuating arm pivotally supported by the plate and having operative engagement with the ratchet wheel, and latch means for said arm when said pawl is moved in said one direction.

' 'PAUL H. SMYTHE, .111. 

